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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 15, Issue 1194, 7 October 1870, Page 3

Church of England. — In a long address delivered to the Diocesan Synod, the Bishop of Nelson, after referring to the changes in the Book of Common Prayer recommended by the late Royal Commission, said : — " The rapid, progress of change in England directly affects us us as a Church here — first, as regards the Liturgy; and, secondly, the translation of the Bible. With regard to the first, our constitution enables us eithor to remain where we are, with our present list of lessons and prayer book, or to receive and adopt such changes as may be agreed upon by the Church of England at home. It is most probable that tho General Synod will be invited to adopt this revised Table of Lessons, and any other alterations which may be transmitted to ifc with the same sanction ; everything in the direction of a greater variety of services, the omission of repetitions aud disentangling of a too copious combination of services, running parallel to the wishes of the Colonial Church. Tho great advantage of the New Table of Lessons is, that it shorteus certain passages ; omits some others which, taken out of their context, arc nofc so profitable as other portions ; introduces the reading of certain parts of Scripture before passod over, and provides passages for a third service ; and gives a recognised authority for the use of special lessons for special occasions." His Lordship also expressed an opinion in favor of a revision of the authorised version ofthe Scriptures, and gave his reasons afc considerable length. Astronomical Stations. — It is satisfactory to learn that the British Government has already placed at the disposal of the Astronomer Royal sufficient funds for the equipment of five stations, each with an altazimuth and transit, for tho determination of longitude and local timo, and with two telescopes of 6in. and 4in. aperture, the former boing provided with driving power. The British observers are to be placed atlverguelon's Island, Woahoo, Auckland (in New Zealand), Alexandria, and Rodriguez. French astronomers are to occupy tho islands of St. Pauland Amsterdam, Yokohama, Tahiti, Noumea, Mascate, and Sues. The North Gorman astronomers recommend' that tho Government should fit out four expeditions, two to the North and two to the South. They especially suggest, as favourable stations, Nertschensk, Hododadi, Kerguelen, Edward's, Crozet's, and Auckland Islands, and, in certain respects, Mauritius. Tho German Committee lay great stress on the employment of heliomoters for fixing tho relative positions of Venus on the sun at different stations. The Russian territories offer most valuable positions, and there will probably bo a chnin of observers across the country from Kamtschatka to the Black Sea, at intervals of aboufc 100 miles. The Land Transfer Act. — Tho Australasian says : — The General Assembly of New Zealand has distinguished itself by the adoption of at least oue good measure this session. We allude to a Land Transfer Bill, which is described as being almost an exact copy of Torrens' Acfc in South Australia. The second reading of the bill was passod, we are told, amidst the cheers of the House, and met with only one dissentient voice, that of a lawyer, the solitary, representative, of feudalism, circumlocution, and obstruction in a legislative body pledged to the principles of reform and progress. After simplifying the process, and cheapening the cost of transferring real estate, colonial legislatures should apply themselves to the consideration of the best means of bringing the wholo of tho work performed by the legal profession within the operation of those principles of bargain and sale which govern the ordinary transactions of life, and regulate the current value of the services rendered to society by the non-pro-fessional classes. '